Car-brake.



R. H. MINICHQ CARBRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-24,19]?- L@L193. Patented Oct. 8,1918.

RUSSELL H. MINICH, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 6913117. 8, 1918.

Application filed August 24, 1917. Serial No. 187,928.

sive in the cost of manufacture, yet strong.

and durable.

Another object of the invention is 'to provide a device of the character described, whereby the brake may be applied or released from the top, the end or the side of the car.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiiective mechanism for retaining the brake handle or wheel in any fixed position, after it has been moved, without the use of a ratchet wheel, a pawl, 11 dog or similar device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic sleeve ratchet or dog, which requires no attention, and which does not have to be manually operated, the same being so arranged and situated as to prevent slipping of the brake mechanism should this be found necessary.

Further objects of the invention are to save a trainman the time and trouble of climbing on the cars and to the top when only thebrake is tocbe applied or released, to provide meanswhereby it is impossible for a sudden release of the brake, causing what is sometimes termed flying of the brake wheel with its attendant injuries and death to the operators, and to provide a more effective application of the brake by giving the operator greatly increased leverage in application, thereby making it possible for the operator to apply the brakes in a more powerful manner with only a fraction of the physical energy required with brakes now in use.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numeralsto the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which- Figure 1, is a side elevation of my improved car brake operating mechanism, showing it .applied to the end of a car.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged side elevation of the brake operating mechanism.

Fig 3, is a front elevation thereof, illustrating the manner in which the brake is applied from the side of the car, portions of this view being broken away and shown in section to clearly illustrate the construction.

Fig. 4, is a section at the line 4-4lof Fig. 3.

. Fig. 5, is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 6, is an enlarged detail sectional view of the ratchet pawl and its casing, and

Fig. 7, is an end view of the horizontal standard, showing the operating means attached thereto.

Fig. 8, is an enlarged side elevation of the stop disk carried by the threaded vertical shaft.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied 2 represents a car body having secured at one end and the bottom thereof a casing 3. This casing comprises a bracket or attaching member 4 of two right angled plates, the vertical plate 5 adapted to rest against the end of the car body and the horizontal plate 6 adapted to underlie said car body.

With the attaching member is formed the integral forwardly projecting body 7 having a vertical bore 8 with which communicate opposite parallel, vertical slots 9 running from the upper end of the body to a point adjacent the lower end thereof, and from the lower end of the body projects'the integral depending bracket 10, which also underlies the horizontal plate 6, and is formed integral therewith. The inner edge of the depending bracket is beveled or out under as at 11, while the lower end is hifurcated to form the arms 12 between which is arranged the grooved pulley 13, the same being journaled upon a shaft 14, the ends of the latter being mounted in the arms 12. In the bore 8 of the body is slidably mounted a sleeve 15 internally threaded as at 16, and from this sleeve in opposite directions project a pair of integral lugs 17 arranged to work inthe slots 9, and the ends of these lugs project beyond the outer walls of the casing. In this bore 8 is also mounted a vertical shaft 18 threaded externally as at 19, and these threads engage. the internal threads of the sleeve 15 to cause the latter to ascend or descend in the bore 8. The lower end of the sleeve 15 is spiral in shape, thereby forming a shoulder which when the sleeve is at its lowermost position is adapted to engage the shoulder 20 produced by the spiral shape of the upper end of the disk 21, said disk being attached to the lower end of the shaft 18 in any suitable manner" as by a pin 22, and the lowersurface of this disk is convex and is adapted to rest upon the convex upper surface of the bearing disk 23 situated at the bottom of the bore 8. On the outwardly'projecting ends of the lugs 17 are pivoted the side bars 24, the same being held in place by nuts 25 threaded on said lugs and these side bars are of sufliclent length to reach beyond the bevel or undercut surface 11 of the bracket 10 and the outer circumference of the grooved pulley 13. I

Between the outer ends of these sidebars 24 is pivotally mounted the clevis 26, the same being held in place by nuts 27 threaded on the projections 28 which pass through the slde bars 24. llhis clevis is also provided with a hole 29 whereby a chain 30, forming apart of the brake rigging 31, may be attached to the clevis.

OnJ/op of the body 7 is secured a cap 32 through which projects the upper end of the's'haft 18 and abutting this upper end of the shaft is the lower end of the alined standard 33, the same being properly positioned by the lguide 34 carried by and projecting from t e upper edge of the vertical plate 5.

When in use the standard may be sup ported by additional guide brackets attached to the car body and the upper end of the standard carries an operating means such as a wheel 35.

A sleeve ratchet 36 is slidably mounted upon the shaft 18 and standard 33 in the region of their meeting ends, so as to overlap a small portion of each. The upper edge of their sleeve ratchet is provided with ratchet teeth 37, while in the side walls adjacent the upper end are formed diagonal slots 38, and adjacent the lower end are formed vertical slots 39, the latter running entirely to the bottom of the sleeve for convenience of assembling the parts.

The sleeve ratchet is attached to the standard by a pin 40 passing through the standard, and projecting into the diagonal slots 38, while said sleeve is attached to the ber 54.

1,2e1,1ee

shaft 18 by another pin 41 passing through said shaft, and projecting into the vertical slots 39.

Above the upper edge of the sleeve ratchet and the path of upward travel of said sleeve is arranged a ratchet dog or pawl 42, the nose of which is adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the sleeve ratchet under certain conditions. The ratchet dog or pawl 42 is pivoted as at 43 within a pawl or dog casing .44, the latter being provided with a shoulder 45 to act as a stop for limiting the downward movement of the dog or pawl when the lip or projection 46 of the pawl engages said shoulder. The pawl casing is attached to'the vertical plate 5 as by a threaded trunnion 47.

The standard 33 has mounted thereon a bevel gear 48 with which meshes a bevel' 51 and on the circular portion of said standrevolubly ard adjacent the squared end is mountedthe arm 52, provided with integral guides, 53 projecting from one face of the arm, and in these guides is slida'bly mounted the wrench or looking member 54, provided with a socket 55,arranged to register with the squared end 51 of the horizontal standard.

The wrench or lockingmember 54 is actuated by a handle 56 pivoted to the outer end of the arm 52 and provided with a lug or projection 57, whereby said handle is pivoted to the lower end of the lock mem- The operating means is held in its proper position upon the horizontal standard 50 by means of suitable rings, washers or collars 58, securely attached to the standard in some suitable manner as by pins'59.

In ractice the vertical standard 33 and the threaded shaft 18 maybe formed of one piece to produce an operating spindle and the sleeve ratchet and pawl eliminated as these latter parts are required only where an extraordinary guard against the release of the brakesisinsisted upon.

The operation of the device is as follows:

By turning the standard 33 in the proper direction to cause the internally threaded sleeve 15 to ascend in the bore 8, the up- 1 from the attaching member 4 and sidewise from the body 7, said fulcrum blocks beingformed integral with these parts.

The upward movement of the internally threaded sleeve will raise the outer ends of the side bars 24 and because of the engagement of said side bars with the fulcrum blocks above referred to, the inner or free ends of said side bars will move downward thereby shortening the distance between the clevis 26 and the brake hanger, so as to firmly draw the brake against the wheels. When the sleeve 15 has been raised a certain distance, the inner or free ends of said side bars 24 will be moved around, so as to carry the clevis beneath the groove wheel or pulley 13, at which time the chain 30 will be caused to engage said groove pulley and any further upwardmovement of the sleeve 15 will cause the brake to be applied as effectively as desired.

The above specified action is obtained either by revolving the standard 33 or by raising the handle 56 until it lies at right angles, and the arm 52 will cause the socket 55 of the wrench or looking member 54 to register with the squared portion 51 of the standard 50, after which the operating device may be revolved as will be obvious, so as to revolve the horizontal standard and transfer the motion and power therefrom through the bevel gears 49 and 48 to the vertical standard 33.

When the locking member 54 is out of engagement with the squared portion 51 of the horizontal standard 50, the operating device will hang downward since the weight of the locking member 54 and the handle 56 will move said locking member to its inoperative position, and the weight of the en tire device will cause the same to hang downward in a virtually vertical position as shown, permitting the horizontal standard to freely revolve.

Where the sleeve ratchet is used to prevent retrograde movement of the brake rigging, said sleeve 36 is situated in the region of the meeting ends of the standard 33, and the threadedshaft 18, so that when the standard 33 is revolved in the direction for causing the sleeve 15 to ascend, the ends of the pin 40 will travel in the diagonal slots 38, causing the sleeve ratchet 36 to rise until the teeth 37 engage the pawl 42, and when the teeth of this sleeve ratchet are in engagement with the pawl, the ends of the pin 40 will have traveled to the lower ends of the diagonal slots, causing the sleeve ratchet 36 to revolve cWllZll the standard 33 and carry the threadedshaft 18 with it. Since the ends of the pin 41 are in engagement with the walls of the slots 39, any further revolving of the standard 33 will cause the pawl 42 to ride over the teeth, and. when the desired adjustment of the internally threaded sleeve 15 and therefore the brake rigging has been obtained, the brake cannot be accidentally released, as this action upon the side bars 24 will cause the sleeve 36 to be disengaged from the pawl 32, but whenv it is desired to release the brakes, it is only necessary to reverse the movement of the standard 33, which will move the ends of the pin 40 to the opposite ends of the diagonal slots 38, causing the sleeve ratchet 36 to be forced downward for disengaging the teeth thereof from the pawl 42, after which the continued revolving of the standard 33,.will release the brakes.

It is to be noted that after the sleeve ratchet 36 has been moved downward, a certain distance, the lip 46 of the pawl 42 will engage the stop shoulder 45 of its casing and permit the teeth to move out of engagement with the nose of said pawl.

Of course, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention' Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, is

1. A car brake operating mechanism, a casing having a vertical bore, and oppo sitely disposed parallel slots communicating with said bore, an internally threaded sleeve slidably mounted within said bore, lugs carried by said sleeve and projecting through the slots in the casing,.a threaded operating means projecting into the bore and engaging the threaded sleeve, whereby the revolving of said operating means will raise or lower the sleeve, side bars pivoted to the lugs and adapted to fulcrum upon portions of the casing, and a clevis carried by the outer ends of said side bars and adapted to connect with the brake rigging of a car.

2. In a car brake mechanism the combination with a car and the brake rigging thereof, of a casing secured to the car, said casing consisting of an attaching member of two plates at right angles to each other, a body having a vertical bore and vertical parallel oppositely disposedv slots communieating with said bore, a depending bracket having an undercut surface and bifurcated at its lower end to place a pair of parallel arms. and fulcrum blocks projecting forwardly from the lower portion of the attach-- ing member and sidewise from the body, a shaft mounted between the arms and the bifurcated. end of the depending bracket. a grooved pullev internally t in the l adapted to fulcrum upon the fulcrum blocks as the threaded sleeve is raised, and means for connecting the inner or free ends of said side bars with the brake rigging.

3. Ina car brake mechanism the combination with a car and the brake rigging thereof, of a casing secured to the car, said casing consisting of an attaching member of, two plates at right angles to each other, a body havi a vertical bore and vertical parallel oppositely disposed slots communicating with said bore, a depending bracket having an undercut surface and bifurcated at its lower end to place a pair of parallel arms, and fulcrum blocks projecting forwardly from the lower portion of the attachin member and si dewise from the body, a sha mounted between the arms and the bifur:

cated end of the depending bracket, a'-

grooved pulley journaled on said shaft, an internally threaded sleeve slidably mounted in the bore of the body, lugs carried by said sleeve, and projecting through' the slots in said body, a threaded operating means arranged in said bore and'cooperating with the threaded sleeve to raise or lower the same, side bars pivoted to the lugs and adapted to fulcrum upon the fulcrum blocks as the threaded sleeve is raised, means for connecting the inner or free ends of said side bars with the brake rigging, a cap attached to the top of the body through which projects the operating means, and a guide for said operating means secured to the upper ends of the attaching member.

4:. In a car brake mechanism the combination with a car and the brake rigging thereof, of a casing secured to the car, said casing consisting of an attaching member of two plates at right angles to each other, a body havin a vertical bore and vertical parallel oppositel disposed slots communicating with sai bore, a dependin bracket having an undercut surface and ifurcated at its lower end to place .a pair of parallel arms, and fulcrum blocks projecting forwardly from the lower portion of the attaching member and sidewise from thebody, a shaft mounted between the arms and the bifurcated end of the depending bracket, a grooved pulley journaled on said shaft, an

internally threaded sleeve slidabl mounted iii the .bore of the body, lugs carried by said sleeve and projecting through the slots 1n said body, a threaded vertical shaft arranged in the bore and engaging the threaded sleeve to raise or lower the same, a cap secured to the top of the body and through which projects the u per end of the threaded sha a standard, the lower end thereof abutting the upper end of the threaded shaft in alinement therewith, a guide for guiding said standard secured to the upper end of the attaching member, a sleeve ratchet having its upper end serrated, provided with diagonal slots adjacent its upper end, said sleeve being mounted upon the threaded shaft and standardin the region of their meeting ends, a pin passing through the lower end of the standard and projecting into the diagonal slots, another pin passing through the upper end of the threaded shaft with its ends projecting into the vertical slots, a pivoted pawl arranged in the path of upward travel of the sleeve ratchet, a pair of side bars pivoted to the lugs of the threaded sleeve, and means for connecting said side bars with the brake rigging.

5. In a car brake mechanism the combination with a car and the brake rigging thereof, of a casing secured to thecar, said casing consisting of an attaching member of two plates at right angles to each other, a body having a vertical bore and vertical parallel oppositely disposed slots communicating with said bore, a depending bracket having an undercut surface and bifurcated at its lower end to place a pair of parallel arms and fulcrum blocks projecting forwardly from the lower portion of the attaching member and sidewise from the body, a shaft mounted between the arms'and the bifurcated end of the depending bracket, a

grooved pulley journaled onsaid shaft, an

. secured "to the upper end of. the attaching member, a; sleeve ratchet having its upper end serrated, provided with diagonal slots adjacent its upper end, said sleeve being mounted upon the,threaded shaft and stand-- ard in the region of their meeting ends, a pin passing through the lower end of the standard and projecting into the diagonal slots, another pin passing through the upper end of the threaded shaft with its ends projecting into the vertical slots, a pawl casing carried by the attaching member and having a stop shoulder formed therein, a pawl pivoted within said casing provided with a lip adapted to engage the stop-shoulder for limiting-the downward movement of the pawl,

the nose of said pawl being so situated as to be in the path of upward travel of the sleeve ratchet, side bars pivoted to the lugs of the threaded sleeve and adapted to fulcrum u on the fulcrum blocks when the threaded s eeve is raised, means for connecting said side bars with the brake rigging, a beveled gear on the standard, a horizontal standard, having a squared outer end, a beveled gear we I on the inner end of said horizontal standard meshing with the first named gear, an arm revolubly mounted on the horizontal standard in proximity to the squared end, integral guides, formed with said arm, and projecting from one face thereof, a locking member slidably mounted in said guides, said locking member provided with a socket adapted to register with the squared end of the horizontal standard, a handle pivoted to the outer end of the arm and provided with a lug for pivotal connection with the outer end of the locking member, whereby the movement of said handle to a position at right angles to the arm, will cause the locking member to engage the squared end of the horizontal standard, so as to lock the parts together and means mounted upon the horizontal standard for holding the arm and locking member in other proper positions.

6. In a device of the character stated, a standard having a round portion and a squared end, an arm revolubly mounted on the round portion of the standard, adjacent the square end, guides carried by the arm and projecting from one face thereof, a looking member provided with a socket slidably mounted in the guides, the socket of said locking member being adapted to register with the square end of the standard to prevent the rotation of the arm independently of said standard, collars on said standard for positioning the arm and locking member, a handle pivoted to the outer end of the arm and a lug projecting from said handle for pivotal connection with the locking member whereby the movement of said handle to a position at right angles to the arm will cause the locking member to engage the squared end of the standard. I 7 In a device of the character stated a revolving threaded member, a revolving sleeve adapted to be actuated by said revolving member, the lower edge of said sleeve being cut spirally to form a shoulder, a disk having its upper edge out spirally to form a shoulder, said disk being pinned to the end of the revolving member, the shoulder of the sleeve adapted to engage the shoulder on the disk when at its lowermost position to prevent the jamming of said sleeve on the revolving member. I

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto afiixed my signature.

RUSSELL H. MUNICH. 

